Posts tagged ‘Blood Test’

Only those close to me know that I am one of the 10% of women of child-bearing age that suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) but since it was one of the main reasons I got involved in distributing aloe vera and I now have a beautiful son, I feel ready to share my experiences in the hope of helping others that may be experiencing some or all of the many symptoms.

The biggest problem, in my view, is the lack of education which means that most women do not know they have PCOS until they struggle to conceive, believing that the symptoms are just a side effect of being a hormonal woman! Once the symptoms are understood it is a relatively easy to problem to diagnose, but as far as I am aware, it can not be cured, only managed.

So what is PCOS?

Literally Poly = Many, Cystic = cysts, small fluid-filled sacs. These cysts produce androgens (hormones) which prevents the proper development of the follicles that hold and finally release an egg.

In severe cases this means that the follicle is devoid of an egg, but in most cases the egg is underdeveloped or degenerated resulting in a failed pregnancy.

In short, the common signals of PCOS are:

acne (like a teenager) and generally poor skin condition

weight gain (often associated with menopausal women)

excessive or unusual hair growth (again like a teenage lad)

irregular menstrual cycles, perhaps occuring once every few months

cramping and/or heavy bleeding when menstruation does take place

irritability associated with hormone imbalance

difficulty in conceiving

Not everyone suffers from all of these and the symptoms vary in severity, but I have noticed that those who have a poor lifestyle or lack in emotional strength do suffer more. For me, the most distressing element of this hormone related disorder was the high incidence of infertility and then just to be cruel, miscarriage.

Famous sufferers include Julia Oliver (wife of Jamie) and Victoria Beckham, both of whom have managed to have healthy babies.

After the trauma of PCOS being confirmed by a blood test and an ultrasound exam, I read as much as I could about PCOS (isn’t the internet fabulous?) and called my friend (now mentor) and set about a programme of management that could only be construed by an accountant! Haha! Now I look back, I can laugh at myself but I assure you I was very seriously affected by the realisation that my fertility could be hindered.

Over a period of about five months, I managed to reduce my cycle from 35-40 days to a more appropriate 28-30 days and to manage my acne and eczema in a more natural way, by learning to understand my body, improving my nutrition and committing to more exercise. I have not had a weight issue, but I am now more conscious of this as I said at the beginning of this post, awareness and understanding is the most important factor. You can not manage something you don’t understand.

I am fortunate that I do not have a severe case, but it is a problem that stirs up many emotions none-the-less. If you would like to know how I have dealt with PCOS, I would be pleased to share this with you in confidence, please contact me.

The information contained in this blog illustrates my opinions and experiences,it does not constitute medical advice and I do not accept responsibility for actions taken or refrained from as a result of reading this blog.

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